No chance of Agger leaving us, insists Benítez

Daniel Agger has been linked with a move away from Anfield. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez, has insisted that the Denmark defender Daniel Agger does not want to leave the club and denied suggestions that contract talks have stalled because the 23-year-old wants a considerable pay rise.

The Spaniard revealed he held talks with Agger today and was assured the player sees his future at Anfield. "Agger is very happy here," he said. "I have spoken to him today about the things that have been said about his contract and it was a very positive conversation.

"He is pleased and happy to stay here. He knows he has not been playing at the same level he achieved last season but I am still pleased with him. He is not playing badly but he knows he can do better. I have great confidence in him. He is a fantastic professional and he wants to stay with us."

"He [Agger] is very competitive and his only concern is how he can improve," said Benítez. "His commitment to the club is 100% and he does not want to leave. His new deal is not a problem. He has an agent [to deal with that] and Daniel can concentrate on football.

"He was surprised about suggestions regarding his contract because when I spoke to him three weeks ago he was only thinking about his own game."

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